The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is set to launch an aggressive campaign to defend the state government’s decision to spend huge amount of public money on memorials, parks and statues in the state capital. Currently, Cheif Minister Mayawati is in the eye of a storm for using government funds for such projects.

According to party insiders, Mayawati has called a meeting of party functionaries, MPs, MLAs and ministers on July 4. “She would tell her workers as to how her rival parties, particularly the Congress, react over the constructions of the idols of great men, gurus and leaders who were born in the Dalit and the OBC communities,” a source said. According to him, she has also worked out a strategy to counter the chances of the Congress party’s revival in the state with the publicity of her projects. “The results of the last Lok Sabha elections were an eye-opener for her. She is worried about keeping her Dalit vote bank intact and her projects would be helpful for this purpose,” he said.

On Wednesday, the CM had described the memorials constructed by her as “centre of pilgrimage” for those who have faith in the men whose statues have been installed. She had also reminded that the followers of such personalities comprise at least 50 per cent of the country’s population.

Sources said the party would ask its functionaries to make people aware of the importance of statues in the history of social change. “She would ask us to communicate to our voters about the difficulties Dr Ambedkar had faced in the politics due to the opposition of the Congress party,” said a senior party leaders.

... contd.